William Joyce, American-born Irish-British Nazi propaganda broadcaster (d. 1946)

William Brooke Joyce, perhaps better known by his infamous wartime moniker, Lord Haw-Haw, was a figure whose life and ultimate fate became inextricably linked with the propaganda battles of the Second World War. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on 24 April 1906, Joyce’s early life saw him move to Ireland and later to England, where he became involved in right-wing politics, gravitating towards fascist ideologies. He was a prominent member of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) in the 1930s, known for his fiery oratory and fervent anti-Semitism.

As the shadows of war lengthened over Europe, Joyce left Britain for Germany in August 1939, just days before the outbreak of hostilities. There, he quickly found a new platform for his extreme views: Nazi radio. From September 1939 until the very end of the war in Europe, his distinctive, plummy, and somewhat sneering voice became a staple of German propaganda broadcasts aimed at the United Kingdom. His broadcasts, which often began with "Germany Calling, Germany Calling," sought to demoralize the British public, spread disinformation, and undermine the war effort. It was this broadcasting, coupled with his rather affected upper-class accent, that earned him the derisive but enduring nickname, Lord Haw-Haw.

In 1940, Joyce solidified his commitment to the Nazi cause by formally taking German citizenship, a move that would later become a central point in his legal battle. After Germany's surrender, Joyce was captured by British forces in May 1945 near Flensburg, close to the Danish border. He was subsequently brought back to the United Kingdom to face charges of high treason, a capital offense.

The legal proceedings against Joyce were complex and highly scrutinized. The prosecution argued that despite his American birth and subsequent German citizenship, Joyce owed allegiance to the British Crown because he possessed a British passport (which he had obtained and renewed) and presented himself as a British subject when he started his broadcasting activities for Germany. His conviction on one count of high treason in 1945 rested on the principle that his actions constituted "adhering to the King's enemies" while still owing allegiance. This conviction was upheld by both the Court of Appeal and, crucially, by the House of Lords, which was the highest court of appeal in the UK at the time. This landmark decision affirmed that an individual could owe allegiance to the Crown, and thus be liable for treason, even if not a natural-born subject, provided they had sought and received the protection of the Crown through documents like a passport.

William Brooke Joyce was sentenced to death and, on 3 January 1946, he was hanged at Wandsworth Prison. His execution marked a grim historical milestone, making him the last person to be executed for treason in the United Kingdom. It is important to note the distinction with Theodore Schurch, who was executed the following day; Schurch was convicted and hanged for the crime of treachery, a specific wartime offense introduced during WWII, rather than the older, more encompassing crime of treason.

Frequently Asked Questions about William Brooke Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw)

Who was Lord Haw-Haw?

Lord Haw-Haw was the popular nickname for William Brooke Joyce, an American-born fascist politician who became a notorious Nazi propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War, specifically targeting the British public.

Why was he called Lord Haw-Haw?

He earned the nickname "Lord Haw-Haw" due to his distinctive, somewhat affected upper-class English accent and his condescending tone during his propaganda broadcasts from Germany, which often began with "Germany Calling, Germany Calling."

What was his role during World War II?

William Joyce served as a prominent radio propagandist for Nazi Germany. His broadcasts aimed to demoralize the British populace, sow dissent, and spread Axis propaganda from September 1939 until the very end of the war in Europe.

What was the legal basis for his treason conviction, given he was American-born?

His conviction for high treason hinged on the argument that despite being born in the United States and later taking German citizenship, he still owed allegiance to the British Crown. This was because he had obtained and renewed a British passport and presented himself as a British subject while in the UK, thereby receiving the "protection" of the Crown, which implied a reciprocal duty of allegiance. His actions of broadcasting for Germany were therefore deemed to be "adhering to the King's enemies."

Was he truly the last person executed for treason in the UK?

Yes, William Brooke Joyce was indeed the last person to be executed for high treason in the United Kingdom. He was hanged on 3 January 1946.

What was the difference between treason and treachery in this context?

Treason is a very old and serious crime against the sovereign or the state, typically involving acts like levying war against the monarch or adhering to their enemies. Treachery, on the other hand, was a specific wartime offense introduced in the UK during WWII under the Treachery Act 1940. It covered actions that assisted the enemy and were done with intent to help the enemy or impede the war effort, often applying to more specific acts of collaboration or intelligence sharing, particularly by military personnel or those in sensitive positions. Theodore Schurch, executed the day after Joyce, was convicted under this specific wartime act, not for the broader crime of treason.